Our team at Advanced American Construction wants to acknowledge the amazing craftsmanship of one of our 2026 summer interns, Nick Hopper.
He is a two-time recipient of the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship and is currently attending Oregon State University, where he is majoring in Construction Engineering Management with minors in Business Finance and Geomatics Engineering. Through the scholarship, members of our team have had the privilege of getting to know him. This summer, we had the opportunity to see him in action and experience firsthand his dedication, skills, and work ethic as part of our team in the field.
On the last day of his summer internship, Nick requested a special meeting with members of our team who also serve on the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee. He arrived with a remarkable and deeply thoughtful gift: a handmade model of the Schweiger Tug Boat. He told us it was a thank-you to our team for the internship experience, the scholarship, and the mentorship he has received.
Nick shared that creating the model took approximately 30 hours of work. He began by constructing a cardboard model for reference before carefully configuring, fitting, and welding the individual steel parts together. The finished model is 18 inches long, 15 inches tall, and weighs about 18 pounds. It’s an impressive representation of the actual vessel.
Honoring the Schweiger Family
The story behind the Schweiger name is an important part of our history. Advanced American Construction was founded by Kent Cochran and Konrad Schweiger. In 1999, Konrad’s son, Forrest, tragically lost his life in a construction accident at just 26 years old. His loss was felt deeply throughout the company.
In Forrest’s memory, AAC established the Forrest L. Schweiger Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship later became the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund following the unexpected passing of Konrad Schweiger, honoring the legacy of both Konrad and Forrest. This year, the scholarship celebrated its 27th year.
When the Tug was acquired in 2023, we felt the Schweiger name was a fitting tribute to the family whose legacy continues to have such a meaningful connection to our organization. The Schweiger name is now carried forward in two distinct ways: through the scholarship fund supporting students pursuing careers in the construction industry and through the tug that bears their name.
Nick’s choice of the Schweiger Tug as the inspiration for his gift made the gesture especially meaningful. His decision reflects the connection he has developed with the people, history, and legacy behind the scholarship.
We are now proudly showcasing his model at the entrance of our office.
